Take one look at the guys on the cover. What do you think this bunch is going to sound like? Well, you're probably right! For those of you who still don't get it here's the first line from the press info: "The worship of Johnny Thunders and his various bands seems to run in cycles". Further on there's also a mention of THE DEAD BOYS. Yep, it's jet another one of those sleazy rock 'n roll bands. So now that we've established this band is as unoriginal as they come, the question is if they're actually any good at ripping off their idols.

Fortunately the answer is yes. Even though I have a tendency of being somewhat prejudiced and snobby about bands like this I can't help enjoying the hell out of this album. We'll never know what Johnny Thunders and Stiv Bators would have thought of such blatant copying but it doesn't really matter. Fact is these guys know how to write a simple, raw and catchy rock' n roll tune that works. Even the obligatory ballad (often a problem with these bands) doesn't make me cringe. Though their guitarist is certainly no Slash, "Mirrorman" is the best pop hit GUNS & ROSES never wrote. And even their version of "I Need To Know" that closes this album (what is it lately with rock bands covering TOM PETTY anyway?) couldn't spoil my fun. If you buy only one blatantly unoriginal punk rock album this year make sure it's this one.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: www.blackhalos.net

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Mirrorman

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